A child who lost the power of speech, suddenly burst into song after listening to Catatonia's 'Mulder and Scully'.

In a mystery worthy of being an X-File, Christopher Howells, of Llanelli, Wales, sang the song word perfect. The two-year-old had only just learned to say 'cat' and 'dog' when he mysteriously lost all power of speech. Parents Stuart and Lisa Howells were stunned by their autistic son's sudden return of voice.

Mr Howells told www.ananova.com, "It was frightening. One minute he was a bright little boy who was developing normally and the next he had withdrawn into his own private world. He said nothing for three or four months, then suddenly started singing Mulder and Scully word and tune perfect with all the pauses in the right place as well. I was just gobsmacked. It's a song we had around the house but we never played it more often than any other. But it was a joy to hear him sing, which brought tears to me eyes."

Mr Howells has since been in touch with Catatonia's Llanelli-born singer, Cerys Matthews, who has taken a close interest in Christopher's progress.

He said: "We owe everything to Catatonia. Cerys Matthews has been absolutely wonderful. We've had a letter from her manager, inviting the whole family to Catatonia's next concert tour after the release of the group's new album later this year."

Christopher, now aged five, is diagnosed as autistic attends a local school's autistic unit where he is making good progress.